Digitisation:
1. I am not sure whether my media can be saved; what do I do?
Contact me - I will tell you realistically whether this is something I can do well without damaging the media. I will not attempt to digitise something in bad condition if I think it will destroy the item.
2. What formats can you digitise?
Photos, prints, and photo albums; 35mm and medium-format slides and negatives; VHS, MiniDV; audio cassettes and reel-to-reel tape.
3. Will I get my original photos, tapes, and film back?
Yes, always. Depending on the volume, location and sensitivity of the collection, this can be delivered to you or collected from the studio in London. When items are posted, they are securely packaged in bump-proof boxes and sent with a tracked, reliable courier. Every box gets QR tracking so you can follow it in real time.
4. How can I be sure my physical material is safe?
Almost all digitisation is done in-house at my studio in London. Every item is logged in on intake with a condition check, stored in secure, lockable, fire-resistant storage in the studio, and handled using archival-safe equipment (nitrile gloves, anti-static tools, acid-free sleeves). Dust Bunny is fully insured, so your items are protected financially as well as physically.
Some collections are best digitised in person; this is something we can agree between us if appropriate.
4. What if an item is damaged, blank, or unplayable?
I'll tell you before I charge for it. If a tape turns out to be blank or a print is too damaged to scan usefully, I flag it and only charge for items I've actually been able to convert.
5. What resolution/quality do I get?
Photos and documents are scanned at a minimum of 600 DPI, with higher resolution available for enlargements or professional use. Slides and negatives are scanned at up to 4,000+ DPI. Video and audio are captured and delivered in the highest quality your original format supports.
6. How do I receive the files?
You choose: a secure cloud album you can share with family, a USB drive, an external hard drive for larger collections, or DVD. You can select more than one option if you'd like both a backup copy and something easy to share.
7. Do you restore or enhance damaged and faded images?
Basic dust and light colour correction is included as standard. More involved restoration (repairing tears, significant fading, or water damage) is quoted separately per image, and I'll always show you a sample before committing to a full batch so there are no surprises.
Same goes for audio/video.
Did I miss anything? Contact me to ask a specific question